(Yicai) Feb. 6 -- China's box office grossed a record high CNY9.5 billion (USD1.3 billion) during the eight-day Chinese New Year holiday that ended Feb. 4, with 187 million cinema tickets sold nationwide.

Ne Zha 2, produced and distributed by Enlight Media, led the holiday box office after grossing more than CNY5 billion, surpassing its 2019 predecessor, according to the China Film Administration. Wanda Film's Detective Chinatown 1900 and Alibaba Pictures Group's Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force ranked second and third.

The box office takings of Ne Zha 2 exceeded CNY5.8 billion today, dethroning The Battle at Lake Changjin, to become the most lucrative film ever in the Chinese mainland.

Imax had a record-breaking Chinese New Year after the Canadian entertainment company raked in USD53 million, a 57 percent jump from its previous all-time high in 2023. Some 5.5 million moviegoers went to Imax screenings in China during the holiday, also setting a new record.

"Chinese New Year unleashed one of the most impressive surges in moviegoing we've seen in recent years, anywhere in the world, leaving a slew of broken Imax records in its wake," said Chief Executive Rich Gelfond. "This is a shot of adrenaline for moviegoing in China that comes at just the right time, with a tentpole heavy slate of local language and Hollywood films ahead for 2025."

Regarding revenue distribution over the holiday, Ne Zha 2 generated income of between CNY950 million and CNY1 billion (USD130.5 million and USD137.3 million) for Enlight Media as of Feb. 4, the Beijing-based company announced yesterday.

Beijing Culture, another producer of Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force, reported earnings of CNY90 million to CNY120 million (USD12.4 million to USD16.5 million) from the flick, while Huace Film & TV said that it earned CNY2.3 million to CNY3.1 million (USD315,820 to 425,670) from its involvement in Detective Chinatown 1900.

These films have also seen some overseas success. Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force has launched in 16 countries, including the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Bulgaria, while dominating the per-screen earnings for four straight days in Australia and New Zealand and leading the non-English film box office in North America from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2.

Imax reported that Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force and Detective Chinatown 1900 were released in theaters in 11 countries, raking in more than USD1.2 million outside China. In addition, Ne Zha 2 will be released exclusively on Imax in Australia and New Zealand today.

Editor: Martin Kadiev